cape. So far as Jose was concerned I did not
feel quite so sure of being able to screen him, but I told him that I
believed I could at least ensure that his punishment should not be more
severe than that involved in his compulsory entry on board a British
man-o'-war--for he, too, had loyally done his fair share of work on the
passage round to Port Royal. The fellow, however, took care to leave
nothing to chance, for some time during that same night he contrived to
entice a boat alongside, and in her made his way to Kingston, where he
vanished.

I made no attempt to go ashore or otherwise communicate with the admiral
on the night of our arrival, for I had been on deck practically the
whole time of our passage, snatching an hour or two of sleep when and
how I could, and I felt that now I was entitled to, and should be all
the better for, a thorough good night's rest. But the next morning I
was up betimes, and, having breakfasted, went ashore in a shore boat and
presented myself for admittance at the admiral's office, so as to catch
him as soon as the old fellow should arrive from Kingston. Prior to
this, however, I had sighted and identified the little _Francesca_,
lying about half a mile farther up the harbour, looking as smart and
saucy as though she had never been mauled by a pirate. There were very
few people moving so early in the morning, and I hastened to take
shelter in the office, as I was anxious to avoid meeting any of my
former friends or acquaintances until I had first had an interview with
Sir Timothy.

It was getting well on toward eleven o'clock when at length his barge
dashed up alongside the wharf, and he came bustling along toward his
office, smartening up this, that, and the other person who did not seem
to be infusing a proper amount of energy into his work as he came along.

As he entered I heard the office messenger say something to him in a low
tone, to which he responded:

"What? Nonsense! you must be mistaken, Mooney, or else you have been
drinking this morning."

"Not a drop, your honour, has passed my lips this mornin'," I heard the
man answer. "And furthermore, sir, the gentleman's inside this minit,
waitin' to see ye."

The next moment Sir Timothy entered, and I rose to my feet.

"Well, I'll be shot, so it is!" he gasped. Then he grasped me by the
hand and shook it heartily, exclaiming: "Welcome back to Port Royal, my
boy, welcome back! And now, sit down and tell me in half a